inkedupmargins 's review for:

Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin

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Steve Sheinkin is one of my favorite authors to use in a middle-grade classroom. Steve Sheinkin excels at writing narrative nonfiction that appeals to middle-grade readers’ interests while introducing them to history. I appreciate the way his stories make history accessible to young readers.

This particular nonfiction narrative tells the story of Jim Thorpe and his contribution to the sport of football. Sheinkin depicts the lives of Pop Warner and Jim Thorpe and explains the background behind the Carlisle Indian School. Additionally, Sheinkin portrays some of the racism and hardships the players faced. The novel shows not only the adversity the players met but the fortitude they mustered to deal with each challenge. The Carlisle School players innovated football as we know it, yet their names and stories have almost been lost to history.

I came into this novel knowing nothing about Jim Thorpe and very little about the history of football. Admittedly, I am not a huge sports fan. Personally, I felt the football jargon weighed down the story, but I can imagine that kiddos who love football would devour this one. I found the players’ stories of strength incredibly inspiring and a worthwhile read for middle schoolers. 3.5 stars